Roots in a Sewer Line: Cable or Repair
A cable will cut a hole through a root mass and the fixtures will work by evening. If the same floor drain returns in six weeks, the joint that let the root in is still there.
What a cable does and does not do
A cable or a jet clears the opening. It does not close a cracked hub or a separated clay joint. Grease and paper are a clearing. Roots that return, mud on the cable, or a second backup are a picture. Another afternoon of the same work is how a small joint becomes a weekend emergency.
What the camera should show
Look for roots at one joint versus roots at every joint down the run. One invitation is a spot repair if the rest of the pipe is round and in grade. A run of invitations is a replacement, trenchless if the path will take a new pipe. The recording is the argument, not the size of the root ball.
What to stop putting in the line
Wipes, grease, and coffee grounds do not cause roots, but they are what the roots catch. Until the joint is fixed, the line has less room for mistakes. A cleanout, if you do not have one, is how the next visit starts without pulling a toilet.
Questions people ask before they call
Do I need a camera if the drain is running again? If this is the second time, yes. A clearing that does not last is the reason to look.
Will I get the recording? Yes. It is yours.
If water is on the floor, call 818-631-7296. The form can wait.